Graduate assistantships are appointments made to students enrolled in a master’s or doctoral program at Wayne State University. Appointments may be made for one, two or three semesters of the calendar year.

Graduate student appointees must be in good academic standing, i.e. have a minimum 3.0 honor point average or its equivalent. The graduate assistant must be enrolled for a minimum number of six graduate credits each per fall and winter semester appointments and one graduate credit for a spring/summer semester appointment.

Assistantship positions provide a salary and a tuition scholarship.  Graduate assistants have the option of accepting subsidized medical, dental and vision insurance. The hiring unit determines the salary but must offer at least the Discipline Category minimum listed in the Compensation Schedule.  The tuition scholarship provides payment for up to ten graduate credits for each of the fall and winter semesters and up to two graduate credits for the spring/summer semester appointment. The scholarships will pay for only graduate credits listed on a student’s Plan of Work.

Graduate assistant positions include: Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTA), Graduate Student Assistants (GSA) and Graduate Research Assistants (GRA). GTAs and GSAs are represented by the Graduate Employees Organizing Committee/American Federation of Teachers (GEOC), except those who serve as counselors, supervisors, confidential employees or coaches.   Below are definitions for each of the graduate assistant positions.

Graduate Teaching Assistant

Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) must be master’s or doctoral students in good standing. GTAs provide approximately 20 hours of instructional service per week over the course of a semester. GTAs may be assigned teaching duties, including grading, in undergraduate level courses or related laboratories or discussion sections, and may serve as instructors of record for undergraduate courses. Students who are primarily assigned to perform such duties for undergraduate level courses or related laboratories or discussion sections should be classified as GTAs.

Graduate Student Assistants

Graduate Student Assistants (GSAs) must be master’s or doctoral students in good standing. Graduate Student Assistants provide approximately 20 hours of service per week over the course of a semester. Graduate Student Assistants may be assigned research, administrative and scholarly duties for the primary benefit of the University or granting agency under the supervision of a University faculty member or administrator. Students who are engaged in work whose product is reasonably expected to be used among other purposes for the student’s dissertation, thesis, essay, or independent or directed study, or who are engaged in other work for the primary benefit of the student’s research, scholarly or education program, should not be classified as Graduate Student Assistants but as Graduate Research Assistants. All Graduate Student Assistant appointments must include a Graduate Student Assistant Certificate of Relevancy.

Graduate Research Assistants

Graduate Research Assistants (GRAs) are typically doctoral students in good standing who hold their appointments in academic or research units. In some instances, the Graduate School may approve appointment of master’s students as Graduate Research Assistants, provided their master’s program carries a significant research component directly relevant to their own academic programs of study. Graduate Research Assistants provide approximately 20 hours of service per week over the course of a semester in research or academic activities relevant to their own academic programs of study. These activities should relate directly to the student’s degree requirements and should be reasonably expected among other purposes to contribute to a student’s dissertation, thesis, essay, independent or directed study, or otherwise be undertaken for the primary benefit of the student’s research, scholarship or academic program. All Graduate Research Assistant appointments must include a Graduate Research Assistant Certificate of Relevancy.

Please see University Policy 2000-2 - Position Definitions and Terms of Appointment for Titles Held by Graduate Students and Postgraduate Trainees for additional information regarding these positions.